(This story has been updated).
Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler is calling out challenger Bob Daiber for making a promise to get rid of time clocks for employees if elected on Nov. 3.
In an address to union-member county employees, Daiber is recorded saying: "I will promise you this . . . that on November 4th . . of 2020 . . . you will not any longer have to worry about clocking in, clocking out. And nor will any county employee clock in, clock out."
Prenzler, a Republican seeking a second four-year term, said that one of his first acts as chairman four years ago was to install time clocks to increase efficiency and accountability.
"I’m a certified public accountant, and before I was elected treasurer ten years ago, I never worked one day for the government," Prenzler said in a statement. "My entire career has been in business - in the private sector. That’s the way I think."
Prenzler said that prior to his administration, employees filled out paperwork timesheets every two weeks.
"It was easy for them to just write '8 hours' for each day, and hand it in," he stated. "You can imagine the potential abuse."
Daiber, Democrat, said he stood by his comments on getting rid of time clocks.
He criticized the cost of Prenzler's time clock system, saying it was a $1 million, no-bid five year contract, and that it cannot be used by some departments where overtime hours are logged.
"There is no data on increased accountability," Daiber said.
"As an elected official I am more concerned about employee morale. No one ever comes in late or leaves early because of their integrity."
In response to Daiber's claim that the timeclock system was awarded in a no-bid contract, Prenzler said that was not true.
"We got more than several proposals, and invited two - ADP and Paycom - to come in and make presentations to the Personnel Committee. We chose the cheaper, Paycom."